Thebeautifully-colored and charmingly-pugnacious Argentine Horned Frog, Ceratophrys ornata, may be the world’s most popular amphibian pet. No matter how many rare and wonderful frogs I encounter, I always save a place for Horned Frogs in the zoo exhibits I manage and in my personal collection. Despite their size (females are often compared to salad bowls), Horned Frogs require relatively little living space. However, several important considerations must be kept in mind when setting up a Horned Frog terrarium. Once this has been accomplished, and if their other needs are met, you can look forward to a pet-keeping experience that may last for several decades. The following information can also be applied to the other Horned Frog species – there are 8 in all – that appear in the pet trade; please post below for more specific information on these.

Natural History

Horned Frog tadpoles communicate with one another by sound…the only amphibian larvae known to do so.

Field studies have shown that other frogs comprise up to 80% of the Argentine Horned Frog’s diet, with invertebrates, snakes and small rodents making up the balance.

A Word of Caution

Horned frogs (and African Bullfrogs) sport powerful jaws studded with tooth-like projections known as odontoid structures, and can administer painful bites. However, they are rather clumsy, and may safely be grasped behind the front legs. Always handle amphibians with wet hands, so that you do not remove the protective mucus from their skin.

Although they adapt readily to captivity, no amount of familiarity will dissuade a Horned Frog from lunging at anything moving within range…if you fingers stray in front of your pet’s mouth, you will be bitten!

Housing

Setting up the Terrarium

Horned Frogs are “sit and wait” predators, and rarely move unless necessary. A 10 gallon aquarium will accommodate a single adult, but I prefer to use a tank of 15-20 gallon capacity. Plastic terrariums and modified sweater boxes also serve well as frog homes.

Large frogs produce copious waste products; ammonia poisoning is the most common cause of death among Horned Frogs. Fortunately, they are quite comfortable in simple, easy-to-clean terrariums. Ease of maintenance is a critical consideration in setting up a Horned Frog’s habitat.

An aquarium, tilted to one side to create a water section (place a small block of wood under one end of the tank), is ideal, as it can easily be dumped and cleaned. Alternatively, a shallow water bowl can be utilized. Water used in amphibian terrariums should be treated with an instant chlorine/chloramine remover (sold for use with tropical fishes).

Shelter

In their natural habitat, Horned Frogs burrow into the ground when seeking shelter. Captives will use clumps of plastic or live plants in the same way. Potted or hanging pothos plants are ideal. Plastic plants equipped with suction cups can also be affixed to the glass so that they hang down to the floor…your frogs will seek shelter below.

Uploaded to Wikipedia Commons by Haroldarmitage

Horned Frogs are not stressed by shelters that leave them partially exposed to view…in fact, many individuals give up any pretense of hiding. Most will also utilize cork bark caves, but these stout, clumsy fellows are not good at negotiating less-roomy commercial shelters.

I’ve successfully kept Horned Frogs on soil and dead leaves in large zoo exhibits, but this type of set-up is harder to manage in smaller terrariums (please post below for details).

Substrate

Horned Frogs swallow whatever enters their huge mouths along with meals, and are prone to intestinal blockages from gravel and other substrates. Bare-bottomed terrariums or washable cage liners are best. Sphagnum moss may also be used, but in that case food should be offered in a large bowl, a separate enclosure, or via tongs.

I and other old timers have long used various upholstery and packing foams as substrates for a variety of amphibians. The foam land area is easy to climb onto, remains moist, and can be cleaned with little effort. This option is best used by those who have access to product information, so that toxic materials are not introduced into the terrarium.

Please post below if you would like information on establishing a large, naturalistic Horned Frog terrarium.

Light

Low levels of UVB light may be beneficial (the ZooMed 2.0 is ideal), although millions of Horned Frogs have been bred and raised without. A UVA exposure, while not essential, may encourage natural behaviors and reproduction. A 12:12 hour day/night cycle is ideal.

Uploaded to Wikipedia Commons by Grosscha

Humidity

Humidity is not a concern if a water bowl is provided and the terrarium is sprayed regularly (use de-chlorinated water, see above).

They are best housed singly. Juveniles have insatiable appetites and invariably try to swallow even like-sized tank-mates. Adults may co-exist, but should be fed separately to avoid accidental bites.

Daily Care and Maintenance

Change your frog’s water daily…ammonia is colorless and odorless, but will cause fatalities if not removed quickly. The terrarium itself should be rinsed often and thoroughly cleaned once weekly with a solution of 1 cup bleach per gallon of water.

A Note on Feeding

Although Horned Frog appetites are legendary, they do have specific nutritional requirements that must be met. Calcium deficiencies, obesity and the over-use of rodents in the diet are common concerns. Please see the article linked below and post any questions you may have.

I use sphagnum moss as a substrate, as this is less likely to be swallowed than others; if you wish a soil type-substrate below the sphagnum, Zilla Jungle Mix or a similar product can be used. Exoterra’s Moss Mat is also worth considering, should you want something simpler.

Sturdy live pants such as Chinese Evergreen, pothos, snake plants and philodendron can be rooted in the Jungle Mix or buried within pots. For shelter, the frogs will usually push into the moss, or you can use wood-bark caves.

Water is best provided in a sunken bowl; unless you have lots of room, filtration is difficult.

There are other [possibilities..pl let me know if you have other ideas or need more info, best, Frank

I’ve used a variety of foam….types used for packing/shipping fruit, upholstery foam, etc. However, these are not made for use with frogs; I was lucky as I relied on long used products available in NYC’s fashion district. It would be best to use only products for which manufacturer’s info (as to content) is available. Washable cage liners are a safe substitute. best, Frank

About Frank Indiviglio

Being born with a deep interest in animals might seem unfortunate for a native Bronxite , but my family encouraged my interest and the menagerie that sprung from it. Jobs with pet stores and importers had me caring for a fantastic assortment of reptiles and amphibians. After a detour as a lawyer, I was hired as a Bronx Zoo animal keeper and was soon caring for gharials, goliath frogs, king cobras and everything in-between. Research has taken me in pursuit of anacondas, Orinoco crocodiles and other animals in locales ranging from Venezuela’s llanos to Tortuguero’s beaches. Now, after 20+ years with the Bronx Zoo, I am a consultant for several zoos and museums. I have spent time in Japan, and often exchange ideas with zoologists there. I have written books on salamanders, geckos and other “herps”, discussed reptile-keeping on television and presented papers at conferences. A Master’s Degree in biology has led to teaching opportunities. My work puts me in contact with thousands of hobbyists keeping an array of pets. Without fail, I have learned much from them and hope, dear readers, that you will be generous in sharing your thoughts on this blog and web site. For a complete biography of my experience click here.

All Categories

Top That Pet Place Reptile Categories

Visit Our Sister Blogs

That Reptile Blog is designed to help promote knowledge of the pet hobby. If you wish to reference or cite specific information from a blog post, we ask that you provide a link back to the original. The content on That Reptile Blog is copyright protected and may not be duplicated without written permission. If you have any questions on this policy, feel free to send us an email at blogs@thatpetplace.com.